Chinese rock legend Cui Jian complained to South China Morning Post that today’s young Chinese have little social or political awareness. From Patrick Boehler:
To many in China, Cui Jian is not only the country’s biggest rock star, he is also one of the most popular critical voices in the country.
[…] “Many people used our music to represent their own political thoughts,” Cui said. “That is something of great pride.”
A quarter century after the bloodshed, Cui remains just as outspoken, and laments a lack of political awareness and interest among China’s youth.
“It’s sad [because] some things are the same; there is no change; we don’t have to cheat ourselves,” Cui said. “Of course, everybody is getting rich, everybody has a higher quality of life, but some things never change. The young people don’t want to see it, but it’s the same.” [Source]
On the bright side, though, Cui notes that the government interferes less with musicians’ work now than in the past.
